TIPS TO PREP LIKE A PRO

GONE ARE THE DAYS OF EARLY–MORNING PANIC

There’s nothing worse than agonising over food options every morning — wanting your child to eat well, but not having the time to do it properly as you get ready for work and school.

Preparing meals in advance will make a world of difference to your life, giving you more time to chat with your child, by spending less time rushing to get food in their lunch box.

BALANCE

Choose a food item from each of the major food groups to create a delicious and healthy lunch.

If you don’t like the idea of bread, there are plenty of other, healthier, grains to choose from (like rye bread or rice crackers).

Carrots will serve you well as a vegetable option, easily lasting in the fridge until the end of the week.

Fruits are not only tasty, but filled with the fibre your child needs for a healthy digestive system.

Protein is one of the more important ingredients to help your children grow strong, with roast beef and boiled eggs making excellent, versatile options.

Whether you opt for a yoghurt, flavoured milk, or slice of cheese, make sure you add a dairy product to the mix.

PRIORITISE

When meal prepping, start with any weekend leftovers first.

This way, you’ll avoid wasting food and you will ensure the most perishable items are used earlier in the week.

After that, prioritise between the sorts of veggies, fruits and proteins you have available.

Chicken tenders will not stay fresh as long as roast beef will, just as bananas will spoil long before apples, and bread will go mouldy and stale before crackers.

CONSULT

As foolish as this may sound to many, ask your child what they’d like for lunch (within certain boundaries, of course).

By doing this, you increase the chance of their lunch actually being eaten, instead of being thrown in the bin.

COMPARTMENTALISE

Using multi–compartment lunch boxes will make it easier to separate the food groups, keeping the lunch fresher for longer.

INSTRUCT

When everything has been prepped and you’re ready to place the week’s lunches in the fridge, label the lunch boxes with the days of the week they’re intended for. Sticky notes work great for this. Your kids can just grab the appropriate lunch on their way out the door — no fuss, no confusion.